Marine vessel stabilization system

Abstract

An outrigger and hull provides outriggers mounted with hinges to plates that enable pivotal or rotatable movement of each outrigger between storage and operating positions. Locking members secure the outriggers from substantial movement when in the operating position.

1. An outrigger apparatus and a boat hull that has port and starboard gunwales, comprising:
 a) a pair of mounting plates, each removably attachable to the boat hull next to one of said port and starboard gunwales; 
 b) a pair of outriggers, each pivotally mounted to one of said pair of mounting plates with an outrigger plate having a hinge, wherein each hinge is generally horizontally oriented and generally parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the hull; 
 c) a plurality of openings on each mounting plate spaced from the hinge; 
 d) a plurality of openings on each outrigger plate spaced from the hinge; 
 e) each outrigger being pivotally movable between operating and storage positions, wherein in the operating position each outrigger plate overlaps each mounting plate and the openings on each mounting plate align with the openings on each outrigger plate, and wherein in the storage position each outrigger plate is spaced away from each mounting plate; 
 f) locking pins that are placeable through the aligned openings of the mounting plate and the outrigger plate, enabling the locking pins to prevent rotation of the outrigger plate relative to the mounting plate; and 
 g) wherein each outrigger includes a pontoon connected to a said outrigger plate. 
 
   
   
     2. The outrigger apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each pontoon is connected to the outrigger plate with one or more members positioned in between the pontoon and outrigger plate. 
   
   
     3. The outrigger apparatus of  claim 2  wherein each pontoon is connected to the outrigger plate with one or more generally vertically extending members positioned in between the pontoon and outrigger plate. 
   
   
     4. The outrigger apparatus of  claim 3  wherein a strap connects each pontoon to the vertically extending member.